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rendauphin
House Bee
Joined: 28 Sep 2011
Posts: 16
Location: United Kingdom, Dorset, Bridport
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 Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:09 am Post subject: Disappearing bees and lots of propolis |
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| A hive that was doing very well suddenly lost 75% of its bees last week. On inspection the bees have sealed the mesh floor with propolis. No dead bees in the hive and lots of honey. I suspect some swarming but do not understand why the floor has been sealed with propolis. Any ideas? Thanks |
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biobee
Site Admin
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 1063
Location: UK, England, S. Devon
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:28 am Post subject: |
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Did you have top ventilation? If air can escape from the top of the hive and the bees can't stop it (although they will try - using their bodies if necessary) they may seal the floor to stop air being drawn in.
That wouldn't explain the drop in numbers, however, which could be due to a number of factors, including swarming, a failing queen, and pesticide poisoning. |
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Paul Reyes
Nurse Bee
Joined: 14 Aug 2014
Posts: 26
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Bees sometimes disappear for no reason, that's the sad truth we have to face as beekeepers. |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
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There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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